Sunday, February 6, 2011

Getty Villa



The Getty Villa in Malibu is modeled after a first-century Roman county house, the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, Italy. The Villa dei Papiri was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A. D, 79 and much of it remains unexcavated. The Getty Villa museum architecture and landscaping are based on elements from other ancient Roma houses in Ponpeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. The plantings include herbs and shrubs grown by the Romans for food and medicine.

The main entrance to the museum is like the traditional entryway to a typical Roman home. Inside the museum are new and renovated terrazzo floors and other Roman inspired interior details. New skylights and windows fill the galleries with natural light.
The cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria are shown by antiquities arranged by themes including Gods and goddesses, Dionysos etc. along with the architecture and gardens











A cafĂ© featuring Mediterranean fare with an outdoor dining area adds to the enjoyment while basking in the view of the villa.  Ed and I took a DayTripper bus trip for this. 


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